Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Nigerian Girl-Child and Suggested Remedies

Abstract

This paper assessed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian girl-child and suggested remedies to the problem. The objectives of the paper were to assess the impact of COVID-19 on educational development of the girl-child, the relationship between COVID-19 and gender-based violence, as well as COVID-19 and protection rights of the child. The scope of the study covers the Nigerian society particularly northern Nigeria where girl-child education is predominantly low. The methodology of the study was based on quantitative approach and data were collected from secondary sources mainly journals articles, bulletins and magazine publications on COVID-19. From the assessment, it was discovered that the major impact of COVID-19 on the Nigerian girl-child are basically in the areas of education, child protection, gender-based violence, health services and economic well-being. It was discovered that COVID-19 has led to the drop-out of the girl-child from school as well as a learning gap due to the lockdown and other strategies put in place curtail the spread of the disease. Schools were temporarily closed after which many students did not resumed after the schools were re-opened. From the fidnings of the study, it was therefore concluded that COVID-19 has negative consequences on girl-child education in Nigeria. The suggested remedies to the impact of COVD-19 on the girl-child include government looked into investing in alternate pathways to education. No one should be left behind. Structures should be put in place by all levels of government using tools like print, radio to ensure students are learning. There should be more community engagement in these areas since an online solution might not work for them because of poor internet connection and electricity. A support system should be created for them with the structures on ground already. Teachers and volunteers can have a well-organized way of engaging the children and the private sector helping to sponsor relevant infrastructure in order to bridge the gap.Corporate Social Organisations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) have to be engaged, to create a pool of volunteers that can engage students in an informal setting following the government’s social distancing guidelines to bridge the gap for these children.